‘Stop revamp talks’

Malacañang sought yesterday to douse speculations of another Cabinet revamp but fell short of ruling out the possibility of more changes in President Arroyo’s official family.

"We have been repeatedly asked about an impending revamp. Sorry, but we already have too much speculation and we do not wish to add to it," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye told reporters.

In November last year, speculations were rife that a Cabinet shakeup was about to happen, but these were immediately denied by Malacañang officials. However, before the end of the month, the President announced the appointment of Luis Lorenzo Jr. as agriculture secretary, replacing Leonardo Montemayor; and Elisea Gozun as environment secretary, replacing Heherson Alvarez.

Last December, Mrs. Arroyo sacked Dante Canlas as Socio-economic Planning Secretary and replaced him with Romulo Neri, former chief of the Congressional Planning and Budget Office.

Last Jan. 2, the President accepted the resignation of Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, who is currently facing $2-million extortion charges, and appointed Public Works Secretary Simeon Datumanong in his place.

Mrs. Arroyo named Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando to replace Datumanong.

Bunye said the President will likely not push through today with announcing her major policy statement, which has also been a subject of speculation.

"The President’s major policy speech might be deferred as per our last Cabinet meeting, where it was indicated that it might be waived," Bunye said.

He earlier said the announcement was supposed to be made today. Mrs. Arroyo, according to reports, might announce a major Cabinet revamp, but Bunye — who is reportedly being groomed to chair the MMDA — refused to comment.

He asked the public not to "preempt the President. If she needs to make a policy statement, she will do so at any time. It does not have to be tomorrow."

Bunye, however, said Mrs. Arroyo will make an announcement during the annual vin d’honneur with the diplomatic corps at Malacañang on Thursday.

"She will say something before the international community," he said.

Before Christmas last year, Malacañang officials said the President will make an announcement on Dec. 30. Mrs. Arroyo said she will no longer seek a full six-year term in the May 2004 elections. — Paolo Romero